Man Shoots, Kills Meeker Woman

Gan Matthews, News 9

MEEKER, Oklahoma -- Meeker police have arrested a man accused of shooting a woman to death in an apartment, with five young children nearby.

Someone called officers to the Meeker Village Apartments just after 10:30 Tuesday night. Police say Ronnie Hamlin and Terri Garner lived in a unit with five kids. The two started arguing, and police say Hamlin pulled out a gun.

"The male suspect shot the female suspect," said Meeker City Manager Jim Howard. "She was transported by MediFlight to Oklahoma City where she passed away."

Officers arrested Hamlin and took him to the Lincoln County jail in Chandler. The Lincoln County district attorney has not yet filed charges.

DHS took custody of the five children.

A neighbor told News 9 the relationship between Hamlin and Garner seemed okay.

"He used to go the video store. You know, we'd run into them here and there. And they just seemed like a normal couple with kids," neighbor Thomas Hathcox said.

Police say there had been trouble between the couple recently, and that officers had been called out to the apartment a few days earlier to settle a domestic situation.

Hamlin and Garner both worked at the Bad Dawg Restaurant in Meeker. He was the manager, and she was a waitress. Hamlin's mother owns the restaurant. The family has temporarily closed the restaurant.

The family is currently accepting donations on any behalf in honor of Terri Garner. Donations can be mailed or dropped off at Living Waters Tabernacle P.O. Box 238, Meeker, OK, 74855 ATTN: Terri Garner Memorial